Girl Self-Esteem & Image Issues & Parents

25 March 200992 Comments

Do you like this story? Be the first to share with friends! Hit the 'like' button!

Almost across the nation 50% of young girls are engaged in negative activities such as injuring and cutting themselves or engaging in unhealthy eating habits and disorders due to self-esteem and self-image issues.

Girl Self-Esteem & Image Issues

Dove’s Campaign on True Beauty came with a bang last year with their poignant videos that went viral all over the web:

Have you visited their site? It has quite a good number of statistical data in regards to Girls and Self-Image. They have information as well as workshops in helping a girl with their self-esteem. They also have a map with top cities and the individual studies they did in each area. I’ve summarized their statistics and findings below.

Here is the executive summary:

Self-esteem has become a crisis in this country. The majority of girls feel they do not measure up in some way including their looks, performance in school and relationships. Most disturbing is that girls with low self-esteem are three times more likely than girls with high self-esteem to engage in harmful and destructive behavior that can leave a lasting imprint on their lives.

Highlights: Real Girls, Real Pressure National Study

Girls and Insecurities

7 in 10 Girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way including their looks, performance i school and relationship with friends and family members.

62% Girls are insecure about themselves

Low Self Esteem and Bad Behavior

75% of girls with low self-esteem report engaging in negative activities such as eating disorders, cutting, smoking, drinking when feeling bad about themselves.

Girls with low self-esteem less likely to receive praise from parents but more criticism

34% of girls with low-self esteem feel they are not good enough of a daughter.

57% of girls have mothers who criticizes her looks

57% of girls don’t tell mothers things about them because of they don’t want them to think bad of them

One of their primary focuses is the fact that parents have great influence in the way their daughters view beauty, their body, and their self-esteem. There is a push to make parents aware that their comments about eating habits, about clothes and looks, about body images all molds a child’s thinking. Moms are role models, and when moms are constantly talking about how some dress makes them look (“This dress makes me look so pretty” “this dress makes me look fat”) or how they feel about their body (“I am getting fat!”) or how their daughter needs to eat a certain way not to get fat (“Don’t eat that or you’ll get fat”), these off hand comments that most people make molds the way the child views themselves, the way they view what is beauty and their own self-esteem.

Below I’ve noted some high level information from some of the bigger cities in the US. Statistics always hit closer to home when you know it’s your local area. You can find the rest of the cities on their map page. Highest among the list is bolded.

Believe they are not good enough daughters

Austin – 19%

Chicago – 18%

Los Angeles – 23% (top 10)

New York – 19%

San Francisco – 25% (top 5)

Believe they do not measure up in some way (looks, performance, relationships)

Parents to Communicate Better – more open conversations about their lives

50% of Young Girls are Engaging in Harmful Activities

The statistics are alarming. Almost across the nation 50% of young girls are engaged in negative activities such as injuring and cutting themselves or engaging in unhealthy eating habits and disorders due to self-esteem and self-image issues. Since childhood they are influenced by media, the beautiful celebrities, the models, the magazines that tells them the best ways to look prettier, lose more weight, while displaying skinny perfect skinned women. As adults alike are engaged in this culture, when they look at parents or older models they see the same type of image focused values. It is no wonder girls in our modern culture have self-image issues.

There are a lot of good articles out there discussing how parents can positively influence and affect their child’s view of themselves and properly anchor their self-image and self-esteem on the right things. A child’s dependence on how they look stems often from the language and life of their own parents and so with a little more awareness and effort parents can together have a positive influence on their children.

What is your reaction to these statistics?

Do any of the self esteem statistics surprise you?

What great ideas have you tried with your children to help their self-esteem?

It’s actually pretty sad to see this happening to girls. I’ve seen little girls change SO much and so prematurely because they want to fit in to this ‘beauty’ image. What’s most disturbing is that they see this as a natural progression, as though it was something they need to do as part of growing up.

Where did you get the stats for this article? I would like to use them in a report for school but I need the resource. It would be really appreciated if I could get the sources as soon as possible. Thanks!

Hi, I’m doing my Eng 111 research paper on The media and how it affects young people’s self esteem and body image. I just read your article and would like to use your statistics on my paper but I need the author’s full name for my works cited. I don’t mind if it’s just the last name etc as long as my source is legit to my teacher. So, if its ok can you please respond to my comment with the author’s full name of last name? thank you!

I went ahead and emailed you directly the authors name.
Hope you write a great paper! If you are willing come share with us all your findings or email it over.

We have a lot of great articles and statistics on the influences of media on young people. Use this link to find more. (it’s what you would get if you searched for “children media” on the search bar on the top right.http://www.cleancutmedia.com/?s=children+media&x=0&y=0

hey, i am also doing a report about how media affects girls’ body image. i was wondering if you could email me the author of the article plzz cause its my summative and its really important and can u email me as soon as u get this.. thanks alot..

Very interesting and complex topic – and always of interest to me. You provided solid information. That, along with the comment exchanges, keeps this conversation going. A wonderful contribution. Thank you!Self Esteem Affirmations

I would like for the ladies to take responsiblity for there self esteem! Don’t look to the main stream media as your standard… it’s all edited and processed. You hold on to your happiness, individuality, and spirit. Smile, be friendly and kind, and stop letting boys and other weak people control you because you want their attention. What ever you have today you either did not have it yesterday or it will be gone tomorrow so prepair your self for change and growth.
Be blessed and Stay Stong!
Emily Kaufman
Cosmetologist and Motivational Speaker

Heyy I came across this when researching for my pop culture and the negativer effects it has on teen girls. very helpful. very sad.
i was curious if you could email the authors name please?
thank you for the great article .

Hi I need the authors name to cite it in my schools newspaper!!! This article is great as I go to an all girls school and this pressure is always on. Please email me by tonight, authors name! Thank you

in case people are wondering, I’ve sent the info everyone has been requested directly to the email addresses provided! Enjoy! thanks so much for your interest. Hope others find it interesting and insightful.

sorry) I feel it is lacking in the sense that it doesn’t discuss the fact that all of these things happen to males. For example, 5% of people with anorexia are male. By focussing on the girls having these issues, it’s leaving out key points which can make males with the problems feel isolated.

Hi! I’m writing an argumentative essay over the negative effects from sexual objectification of young girls and I need the authors name by tonight! If you could email it to me that’d be wonderful! Great article

I absolutely love your point! I agree so strongly that the teens of today need to realize what true beauty is. Its about being yourself, its about knowing your worth, and realizing your potential. Its about the character that you build through all your trails and tribulation. Btw, im doing a perssuasive essay for literature and i need the authors name and works cited info as well.
Thanks.

I agree so much! the teens of today need to realize what beaty really is. Its being yourself, its realizing your potential and worth,its the character you build through all your trails a tribulations. Thanks for speaking out.
Btw, I need the authors name as well, and im having trouble finding the copyright.
Thanks again!

Hi, just like a couple of other people in the previous blogs, I am doing my Senior Thesis on How the Media Portrayals the Image of a Perfect Body For Women, and one of my questions are about self-esteem issues and I am using a lot of the information form this websitee but i need the authors name.

Hello. I’m doing a senior exit project on insecurity and I really want to use these statistics. So I was wondering if you could send me the sources and the author’s name. Sorry for the trouble and thanks a lot!!!

Hey I have the same question as everyones else. I would like to use this research in my assignment and would like to know where the research was conducted and what is the authors name. Thanks it is a great article.

Thanks for visiting! It was sent!
Maybe you could share a thought or two about your opinions about girl’s self-esteem issues? Would love to hear your input.cleancutmedia recently posted..Unnaturally Beautiful Children: Image & Beauty

No one is born with self esteem. Therefore, it is extremely important to guide girls with positive directions in life. Everyone has a specific purpose or “calling” and it is our responsibility to discover it in order to have a well balanced life and lifestyle.

It is unfortunate that so many girls and women suffer when they can follow a credible road map for success to help them gain confidence and learn to love themselves and accomplish goals that keep them motivated. If your daughter is in danger or is inclined to live a destructive lifestyle, I would strongly encourage them to read, “Image Is Everything!” sold on Amazon.com under StudioSteffanie.

could i please get the name of the author, I’m doing a persuasive speech on how real low self-esteem is and why it’s another good thing to put on to your ‘why i don’t bully’ list (just came up with that name i think i like it) please, please, please email it to me.Sky recently posted..Can’t Sleep? It’s the iPad’s fault. Study says so.

Hello! I enjoy reading this article. I’ll have to say that I do agree with parents being an influence of how young girls sees “beauty” as. Everyone in this world is so beautiful, and it hurts my heart knowing that others can define “beauty” as what they see on the media.

Please send me the author of the article, so I can cite my paper please.

These stats are true! And it’s very unfortunate that so many ladies and especially young ladies fall into so many pitfalls that can be prevented with the proper direction. I created a self-help guide called, “Image Is Everything!” What Does You Image Say About You? I created it with the mission to save as many ladies as possible from all the unnecessary drama that can be prevented once they discover their purpose in life. It’s so important to know who you are! This conversation is so important to help society at large. As they say, each one teach one.

My guide is available on Amazon.com (search for StudioSteffanie). America, let’s make a difference and leave a positive legacy for the ones to follow!

Our Worldview Revealed

Clean Cut Media aims to bring you insightful commentary and meaningful discussions on the impact of media on pop culture. No one would argue that all forms of media from movies to music to advertising has a powerful effect on how we think and what we believe. However it is fascinating to really examine the underlying messages and hidden philosophies behind each story or ad. Posts will vary from examinations into advertising campaigns or philosophies conveyed in a movie, to deeper discussions about life philosophies, discussions about truth and meaning.